March 14 - 47 (Still Life on Table)

Artist Ben Nicholson (Denham, England, 1894 - 1982)

Date1947

Mediumoil on board

ClassificationsPaintings And Drawings

DimensionsOverall: Height: 46.1 cm, Width: 52.1 cm
Frame: Height: 63.5 cm, Width: 67.5 cm, Depth: 6 cm

AcquisitionPurchased in 1947 with income from the Macdonald Bequest.

LocationOn Display - Gallery 17

Object numberABDAG002910

Keywords

Other Titles

Still Life, Spotted Curtain

About MeAfter his exploration of pure abstraction in the 1930s and early 1940s, Ben Nicholson returned to table top still lifes. In this work, objects are almost abstract and are identified by an intricate pattern of line and by flat shapes of colour.

Formerly titled "Still Life on Table" the work is correctly titled with the date of its completion - a common practice of Nicholson. Rather than citing the Cubists - who would be a natural point of reference - for inspiration Nicholson declared: "[my still lifes] didn't come from Cubism, as some people think, but from my father - not only from what he did as a painter but from the very beautiful striped and spotted jugs and mugs and goblets, and octagonal and hexagonal glass objects which he collected."

More About Me

Collections Wall

The artist declared he wasn't inspired by Cubism but by his father's collection of glass in numerous geometrical shapes.

Exhibitions

Gallery 17 - Abstract Art